The power grid of Ukraine is ready for the 2017/18 heating season from the point of view of technical readiness and conducting of repair, Head of national energy company Ukrenergo Vsevolod Kovalchuk has written on his Facebook page.

"The repair campaign has not yet been completed on all thermal units, but it is in line with the schedule. No problems from the technical point of view with the readiness of the power grid's equipment and generation are expected," he said.

At the same time, Kovalchuk drew attention to not enough coal stocks before the start of the heating season at the warehouses of the thermal power plants (TPPs) and combined heat and power plants (CHPPs) of the country, although today they are more than a year ago.

According to him, in recent years the country has learned to work in conditions of bringing coal from external sources, and not only using accumulated stock and own production. In particular, the generating companies provided schedules for imports of anthracite and increased production of coals of the gas group during the autumn-winter of 2017/2018.

"If these obligations are met by generating companies, we do not expect any problems and this is enough to ensure stable operation of the power grid right now and have a certain reserve for the future," Kovalchuk said.

In general, he assesses the country's need for coal, which is necessary for the passage of the heating season, at 14 million tonnes (of which - 3.3 million tonnes of anthracite). It is 2 million tonnes more than in the heating season 2016/2017.